Towing Hitch from... Uhaul?
 

So with summer in full bloom, the nature is calling out to me and I am going to answer it. I want to install a towing hitch for my jetski on my '05 X5. Contacted my service adviser at BMW of SF who advised that:

THE TRAILER HITCH RUNS ABOUT $1572.00 TOTAL IN PARTS AND LABOR.

$544.00 IN PARTS

$973.00 IN LABOR AND THE REST IN TAX.

I called the parts department to confirm and casually asked if they know of an alternative to paying $1500+ for labor and they mentioned... Uhaul. So I contacted my local Uhaul, gave them a make and model of my car and they told me that parts AND labor for this hitch INSTALLED will cost me... ~$200.00 :wow:

Hmm, $200 vs. $1572... :dunno: :rofl:

So I wanted to see if anyone has heard of this particular towing hitch by Draw-Tite and the quality of Uhaul's install job.

Oh yeah, I have scheduled an installation for this Tuesday, so if no one else has done it, I am willing to be the guinea pig ;) Will keep everyone posted.

Cheers!

Welcome. You really should search on the forum about hitches -- aftermarket hitches have been known to damage the actual frame of the X5 :( If you want to take that risk with your 60k vehicle that is fine, but having heard of the damage from two folks who used aftermarket hitches I wouldn't take the chance.

I would go OEM, but that labor price is ridiculous!!! See if you can find a BMW technician that can do it for a lot cheaper. Or, better yet, DIY!

Like the others above, I would highly recommend going with the BMW hitch. It is engineered to protect you and the vehicle properly while towing. Don't let a few dollars compromise either one. Look at what all comes with the OEM kit and compare it to the U-Haul setup - there is no comparison :tsk:

http://www.xoutpost.com/images/articles/91/Parts.jpg

Find a few friends and DIY. Here's some good info to help - http://www.xoutpost.com/articles.php?...ticle&artid=91

And here are the BMW install instructions - http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/X5_trailer_hitch.pdf

I recently faced a similar choice. '02 Lexus RX300 for $20k or '02 X5 for $30k. I bought the X5...

I just did this install last weekend and my notes are posted at the bottom of the DIY. There's no way you're gonna' get the quality of the BMW kit for $200. The lighting harness kit alone is gonna' cost you another $160 and it's plug 'n play, not splice 'n pray. Comes complete with 4-wire electronic converter and round to flat connector converter.

I was tempted to cheap-out on the hitch too. Went OEM and darn glad that I did.

Patrick

Just to be clear... if you go with the U Haul, you should still get the BMW wiring harness.
In my research I find that the U Haul guys do not have a clue about wiring the BMW.

Ole Bubba said to me, "no problemo- I'll find 12 volts and we will be ok". I mentioned the computer and the Hall effect brake light system, then the 5 volt multiplexer system... he said maybe it would be better if I went somewhere else to have the wiring done, after I mentioned his liability if he messed up the computer.

False ecomomy....

No way in hell would I have U-haul do it. Buy the parts and install it your self. I think that you need to cancel that appointment.

I ordered the hitch kit from the parts dept of my local dealer today. MSRP is $499. He agreed to $450 (10% discount for BMWCCA members). Even if you're not a BMWCCA member, you can shop around by phone and probably find a local dealer who will give you a 10% discount.